Home Office

Child Sexual Abuse Independent Panel Inquiry

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much funding has been provided to the independent panel inquiry into child sexual abuse.

Lynne Featherstone: Holding answer received on 10 March 2015



The Independent Panel Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse is of the highest priority for the Home Secretary. Funding has been provided to meet initial costs and work is currently underway to pursue a cost-sharing arrangement across Government. At her pre-appointment confirmation hearing before the Home Affairs Select Committee on 11 February, Justice Goddard committed to publish the costs of the Inquiry incurred so far before Parliament is dissolved at the end of March.

Drugs: Misuse

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent progress she has made on legislative proposals to ban the sale of legal highs.

Lynne Featherstone: Holding answer received on 12 March 2015



The Government is developing proposals for a general ban on the supply of new psychoactive substances across the UK, with a view to introducing legislation at the earliest opportunity, notwithstanding the lack of appropriate legislative vehicle in this Parliament.

HM Treasury

Bus Services: Fares

Lilian Greenwood: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 28 November 2014 to Question 215333, what the estimated cost to the Exchequer in the calendar year 2015 will be of raising Transport for London bus fares in line with the retail price index.

Danny Alexander: The estimated cost to the taxpayer in 2015 of raising Transport for London (TFL) bus fares is 1% of TFL’s bus fare income for 2015.

Welfare Tax Credits: Fraud

Mr Frank Field: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many prosecutions were brought for tax credit fraud in each year since 2010.

Priti Patel: Data relating to the number of tax credit prosecutions is published annually.   The information for 2013-14 can be found here:   https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/401523/Annual_report_from_the_Commissioners_for_Revenue_and_Customs_to_the_Treasury_on_Tax_Credits_under_Section_40_of_the_Tax_Credits_Act_2002_2013_to_2014.pdf The information for 2012-13 can be found here:   https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/331113/REPORT_REQUIRED_UNDER_SECTION_40_OF_THE_TAX_CREDITS_ACT_2002_FOR_THE_TAX_YEAR_2012-13.pdf   The information for 2011-12 can be found here:   https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/331110/REPORT_REQUIRED_UNDER_SECTION_40_OF_THE_TAX_CREDITS_ACT_2002_FOR_THE_TAX_YEAR_2011-12.pdf   Further historic information is no longer published.

Fuels: Tax Evasion

Ms Margaret Ritchie: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many illegal diesel plants have been discovered in Northern Ireland in the last five years; and where such plants were located.

Priti Patel: In the last five complete years for which figures are available HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) dismantled the following numbers of fuel laundering sites in Northern Ireland:   2009-10: 16 2010-11: 20 2011-12: 29 2012-13: 22 2013-14: 38   HMRC does not split its reporting data by specific location. Normally it records and reports data as a national statistic but, due to unique factors relating to oils fraud, it does separate out figures for Northern Ireland for oils offences.   HMRC fights fraud on a wide range of fronts, from special units performing thousands of roadside checks to raiding laundering plants. The UK has recently announced, jointly with Ireland, an improved new marker for rebated fuel, which will make it much harder to launder marked fuel and sell it at a profit.

Fuels: Tax Evasion

Ms Margaret Ritchie: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many (a) arrests and (b) convictions for diesel laundering there have been in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.

Priti Patel: HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is not a prosecuting authority. Where cases do proceed to the criminal courts in Northern Ireland the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland (PPSNI) carries out the prosecution.   HMRC’s records do not differentiate between the forms of fuel fraud it investigates and so they cannot identify arrests and convictions solely for fuel laundering. Arrests and convictions for oils offences in Northern Ireland since April 2010 were as follows:   YearArrestsConvictions2010-111842011-121242012-13892013-14279   There is no direct correlation between arrests and convictions in any one year as investigation and prosecution often straddles more than one year.   HMRC fights fraud on a wide range of fronts, from special units performing thousands of roadside checks to raiding laundering plants. The UK has recently announced, jointly with Ireland, an improved new marker for rebated fuel, which will make it much harder to launder marked fuel and sell it at a profit.

Air Passenger Duty: Northern Ireland

Dr William McCrea: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on air passenger duty.

Priti Patel: Treasury Ministers and officials have regular discussions with Northern Ireland Executive Ministers and officials on a wide variety of topics.   Any further devolution of air passenger duty to Northern Ireland, as a means to achieve a reduction in rates, would need to be funded by the Northern Ireland Executive.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Sri Lanka

Fiona O'Donnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what his priorities are for the UK's relationship with Sri Lanka.

Mr Hugo Swire: The UK will work to reinvigorate its relationship with the people of Sri Lanka and President Sirisena’s government. We already have strong links in trade, education, tourism and between our people. The President’s election is a new opportunity for Sri Lanka to build a stable, prosperous and inclusive future for all Sri Lankans. President Sirisena’s early visit to the UK from 7-11 March clearly expressed a renewed friendship between our two countries. The UK has offered support to the newly elected President and Prime Minister as they seek to implement their ambitious reform programme and take steps to reconcile all Sri Lankan people. However, we have been clear we want to see Sri Lanka deliver on its commitments to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights by September.

Ukraine

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what support his Department is providing to the Ukranian government in response to the recent gas blast in a coal mine in that country.

Mr David Lidington: We were deeply concerned to hear about an explosion at a coalmine near Donetsk city on 4 March which resulted in over 30 deaths. the UK was not asked by the Ukrainian government for assistance on this occasion. We were concerned to hear that the Russian-backed separatists rejected the Ukrainian government’s offer to assist in the tragedy. The UK continues to support Ukraine in other areas, and is providing £10 million in technical assistance to support economic and governance reforms in Ukraine, and to provide humanitarian assistance. In response to the deteriorating humanitarian situation an additional £15 million of humanitarian support to Ukraine was announced by the Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron), on 23 February.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Students: Loans

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how much has been allocated for the impairment of student loans included in the Department Expenditure Limit for his Department.

Greg Clark: The latest Departmental Expenditure Limit and its components is reported in the Main and Supplementary Estimates, and accompanying Memoranda. Links are available below: BIS Main Estimate Memorandum 2014-15 – http://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons-committees/business-innovation-and-skills/BIS-ME-2014-15-Memorandum-FINAL-2014-04-29.pdf Central Government Supply Estimates 2014-15 Supplementary Estimates –https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/405330/supplementary_estimates_2014-15_web_with_corrections_slip.pdf

Foreign Nationals

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how much his Department has spent on advertising higher education aimed at non-EU nationals in each of the last five years.

Greg Clark: Holding answer received on 27 February 2015



The Department for Business Innovation and Skills has not funded advertising specifically aimed at non-EU nationals in the last five years. Government promotion of UK higher education to students overseas principally takes place through the British Council, the Britain is GREAT marketing campaign which has an education pillar, and via ministerial bilateral engagement.   In the last five years ministers have promoted UK education opportunities through a wide range of overseas visits.

Higher Education: Admissions

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many and what proportion of people who enter higher education at the age of 18 do so with BTEC qualifications as the entry criteria.

Greg Clark: Holding answer received on 27 February 2015



The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills does not hold information on the entry criteria for higher education courses.

Higher Education

Jesse Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how an institution can become a designated institution under section 129 of the Education Reform Act 1988.

Greg Clark: Holding answer received on 02 March 2015



Guidance on the process whereby a provider of higher education can apply to become a designated institution eligible to receive Higher Education Funding Council for England funding under section 129 of the Education Reform Act 1988 can be found at: http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20120118171947/http:/www.hefce.ac.uk/pubs/hefce/2001/01_05.htm

Innovate UK

Sir Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what the process is for deciding the location of the new Energy Systems Catapult.

Greg Clark: The decision on the location of each new Catapult is made by the Catapult Chairman, working with Innovate UK, who run an independent process using experts in the field to assemble evidence and consult with stakeholders and communities to establish the role, shape and, ultimately, location of a Catapult. The choice of location will pay due consideration to a number of factors, including the accessibility and proximity to relevant businesses, academia and other existing facilities. Innovate UK has now appointed Nick Winser as Chairman of the Energy Systems Catapult and he will make a decision on the Catapult’s location in due course.

Student Finance England

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of Student Finance England's processes for approving student finance applications and transferring payments to approved applicants.

Greg Clark: Holding answer received on 09 March 2015



Annual performance targets are in place to monitor the effectiveness of Student Finance England's processes for approving student finance applications and transferring of payments to approved applicants. The Student Loan Company’s performance against these targets is monitored on an ongoing basis by the SLC Board and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills meet the Chair and Chief Executive regularly to review the Company’s overall performance.

Student Finance England

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what guidance he has provided to Student Finance England on the length of time taken to (a) approve student finance applications and (b) transfer funds after approval.

Greg Clark: Holding answer received on 09 March 2015



Annual targets are set for the Student Loans Company on both the length of time taken to approve student finance applications and the transfer of funds after approval. These targets are contained within the Annual Performance and Resource Agreement letter, the latest of which dated 24 April 2014 is publically available on the Student Loans Company website.

Student Finance England

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps he is taking to ensure interim financial support is provided to students when approval of their applications to Student Finance England has been delayed.

Greg Clark: Holding answer received on 09 March 2015



Student Finance England maintains two processes to provide interim financial support in cases where further information is required from applicants or their sponsors before means tested applications can be finalised. These processes run automatically each evening and allow Student Finance England to release the minimum non means tested support to students who have satisfied their personal eligibility requirements (e.g. Identity, Residency, Higher Education Institution and Course). Any additional means tested support will then follow on receipt of the appropriate information.

Student Finance England

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, which student groups he has recently met to discuss the performance of Student Finance England.

Greg Clark: Holding answer received on 09 March 2015



As Minister of State for Universities and Science, I visit Universities on a regular basis and on those occasions meet with student groups to discuss a wide range of issue including Student Finance England.

Student Finance England

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of Student Finance England's complaints procedure.

Greg Clark: Holding answer received on 09 March 2015



I meet the Chair and Chief Executive Officer of the Student Loans Company regularly to review the Company’s overall performance, including its handling of complaints, and am confident that the Company has robust procedures in place to ensure customers’ concerns are resolved effectively.

Galileo System

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 6 January 2015 to Question 219924, what the nature of the launch anomaly was; and what the result of the full inquiry was.

Greg Clark: The root cause of the launch anomaly that affected the 5th Galileo launch on 22 August 2014 was a design fault leading to a shortcoming in the system thermal analysis. As a result of the inquiry the system thermal analyses were re-examined and the design fault corrected. The Inquiry Board recommended measures that would allow a return to flight for the Soyuz launch vehicle. The Commission now aims to resume Galileo launches shortly.

Galileo System

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 22 January 2014, Official Report, column 213W, on the Galileo system, what the cost was to January 2014; and what proportion of that cost has been paid by the UK.

Greg Clark: The Galileo Programme’s development stage took place between 2000 and 2007, and was funded through contributions by Member States of the European Space Agency (ESA). The UK contributed €240.3 million (£163.43m at March 2007 prices) to the approximately €1.5 billion (£1.02bn at March 2007 prices) budget, approximately 16%. In 2007, Member States and the European Commission agreed a multi-annual budget to last until the end of 2013 of €3.4 billion (£2.3bn at March 2007 prices) of EU funds to complete the programme. EU Member States, including the UK, contribute to the EU Budget as a whole and not to individual spending programmes within it. As a reference point, the UK’s post-abatement financing share of the EU Budget was estimated to be around 12.5% in 2013.

Electrical Engineering: Graduates

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many electrical engineers graduated from UK universities in each of the last 10 years.

Greg Clark: Holding answer received on 05 March 2015



The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) collects and publishes data on students enrolled at UK higher education institutions. Statistics on first degree qualifiers from electronic and electrical engineering subjects in the academic years 2004/05 to 2013/14 have been provided in the table.   Statistics for the 2014/15 academic year will become available from the Higher Education Statistics Agency in January 2016.  First Degree qualifications obtained by subject UK Higher Education Institutions Academic Years 2004/05 to 2013/14 Academic YearElectronic and electrical engineeringSTEMsubjectsAll subjects2004/055,630129,480306,3652005/065,465132,530315,9852006/074,980132,735319,2602007/084,990138,030334,8902008/094,695137,465333,7202009/104,890144,505350,8602010/115,190150,520369,0102011/125,420158,580390,9852012/135,650167,420403,7702013/145,500175,125421,850 Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Student Record Notes: 1. Figures have been rounded up or down to the nearest five, so components may not sum to totals. 2. Counts in the table refer to students qualifying from both full-time and part-time courses. 3. Counts by subject are given in terms of full-person equivalents - defined using the Joint Academic Coding System (JACS). 4. Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) courses have been defined as the sum of the JACS subject groupings: Medicine & dentistry, Subjects allied to medicine, Biological sciences, Veterinary science, Agriculture & related subjects, Physical sciences, Mathematical sciences, Computer science, Engineering & technology and Architecture, building & planning.

Overseas Students

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 12 February 2015 to Question 223288, what steps he is taking to encourage institutions of further and higher education to put in place financial protection for overseas students.

Greg Clark: Holding answer received on 05 March 2015



The Government commitment to protecting the interests of overseas students coming to the UK is highlighted in the International Education Strategy published July 2013. The International Education Council has been established to drive the implementation of this strategy. As part of their work they have formed a sector led working group which has been looking a range of issues which shape the overall International Student Experience - including financial protection.

Higher Education: Admissions

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps have been taken to ensure the maintenance of quality at publicly-funded English higher education institutions after the lift of the student number controls in the 2015-16 academic year.

Greg Clark: The Government signalled to the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), in their 2015 grant letter, that students should expect the highest quality learning opportunities. The Council have developed mechanisms to assure the quality of the academic student experience.

Further Education

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the effect of removing student number controls at higher education institutions on further education colleges.

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what estimate he has made of the likely change in numbers of full-time undergraduate students at publicly-funded higher education institutions in the 2015-16 academic year.

Greg Clark: We have removed controls on the number of students who can attend higher education courses at publicly-funded higher education institutions and further education colleges in 2015/16. This will allow anyone with the ambition and ability to go on to higher education. The number of new entrants will depend on the decisions of applicants and institutions.

Students: Loans

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what estimate he has made of the total amount of student loans outstanding as of January 2015.

Greg Clark: Holding answer received on 09 March 2015



The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) values all Student Loans on 31 March each year. This is reported in the BIS Annual Report and Accounts. This value includes loans issued, plus interest, less repayments and actual write-offs during the year. The next publication of this value, as at 31 March 2015, will be in the summer.